OSHA Increases Civil Penalties

OSHA has increased civil penalties by approximately 1.8%, an annual adjustment for inflation that’s required by law.

Among the penalty increases for workplace safety and health violations are:

• For a willful violation, in which an employer knowingly failed to comply with an OSHA standard or demonstrated a plain indifference for employee safety, the minimum penalty increases from $9,472 to $9,639, and the maximum penalty increases from $132,598 to $134,937.
• For each repeated violation for an identical or substantially similar violation previously cited by the agency, the maximum penalty rises from $132,598 to $134,937.
• For each serious violation for workplace hazards that could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, the maximum penalty goes from $13,260 to $13,494.
• For each other-than-serious violation, the maximum penalty increases from $13,260 to $13,494.
• For each failure to correct violation, the maximum penalty increases from $13,260 to $13,494.
• For each posting requirement violation, the maximum penalty increases from $13,260 to $13,494.

The new penalty amounts take effect immediately, applying to any penalties assessed after Jan. 15.

States that operate their own OSHA plans are required to adopt maximum penalty levels that are at least as effective as those used by federal OSHA.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Phillip Montgomery (860.244.1982).